Test drive Bridgestone presents innovative ENLITEN technology
It is designed to improve performance on wet surfaces.
Bridgestone has partnered with long-term partner Volkswagen to apply innovative ENLITEN technology to its new all-electric vehicle ID.3. Bridgestone pioneers the environmentally friendly ENLITEN technology, which allows tires to have very low rolling resistance but requires less material to make the Turanza Eco tires specially designed for ID.3.
Environmentally friendly car with environmentally friendly tires
Designed to showcase the benefits of e-mobility to more drivers, the long-awaited ID.3 is Volkswagen's first all-electric vehicle to hit the market. When developing the ID.3, Volkswagen is looking for a tire that will perform at a high level in both wet and dry conditions, have good braking distances, long life and, most importantly, ultra-low rolling resistance. This is because rolling resistance has a huge impact on fuel consumption and, in this case, on the operating range of the ID.3 battery pack.
Bridgestone meets all these requirements with the bespoke Turanza Eco tire and ENLITEN technology. This innovative Bridgestone lightweight tire technology sets a new standard in consuming less raw materials as well as increasing rolling resistance, which delivers significant environmental benefits – in keeping with the idea of an electric vehicle built for sustainability.
ENLITEN Technology tires exhibit a rolling resistance that is 30% lower than a standard high-end summer tyre. [Based on comparison made by Bridgestone with summer tires of the same size, both with and without ENLITEN. Technology (92Y 225 / 40R18 XL).] For fuel-powered vehicles, this contributes to lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, as well as significantly extending the battery life of an electric vehicle, ensuring that ID.3 drivers can enjoy the vehicle's maximum driving range. In addition, tires with ENLITEN technology allow for additional fuel/battery savings by up to 20% weight reduction compared to equivalent high-end standard summer tires.1 This amounts to up to 2 kg. Each tire requires less raw material to produce, which is another benefit for the environment, both in terms of resources and the sound management of used tire waste.
ENLITEN technology has many other advantages in terms of its characteristics. The synergy between the unique materials used to create the ENLITEN technology, as well as the new mixing process, increase wear efficiency without sacrificing traction. This, combined with the model's fully 3D design, which maximizes wet performance and reduces wear, means that ENLITEN technology improves vehicle handling and increases driving pleasure. In the specific case, the ID.XNUMX technology meets all Volkswagen's performance expectations.
A project that has benefited from a long partnership
The success stories between long-term partners Bridgestone and Volkswagen, including the new record for the most electric laps at the Nurburgring last year, add value as tires are quickly developed to meet all Volkswagen requirements.
In the early stages of development, Bridgestone used its innovative Virtual Tire Development technology to digitally determine the optimal tire sizing ID.3. In addition to accelerating the tire development phase, Virtual Tire Development also brings significant environmental benefits by ensuring that tires do not need to be physically manufactured and propelled during development and testing, but virtually.
Turanza Eco tires with ENLITEN technology are available for the Volkswagen ID.3 in 18, 19 and 20 inch versions. 19- and 20-inch tires are equipped with Bridgestone B-Seal technology, which temporarily traps air in the event of a puncture in the tread area, allowing the car to continue driving.
“The launch of the ID.3 was the biggest launch since the Golf. We knew that tires had to be perfect so that drivers could understand both the benefits of the car and the environment. That's why we chose Bridgestone and their ENLITEN technology for the ID.3. The significant reduction in rolling resistance provided by the technology has a huge impact on the battery life of the ID.3, and this is very important, especially given the fact that many questions have recently arisen about the range of electric vehicles. In the long term, ENLITEN technology can help change the perception of the applicability of e-mobility. It is certainly innovative technology,” commented Karsten Schöbsdat, Head of Chassis Development at Volkswagen:
“Recent designs for the all-electric ID family have proven what electric mobility can do. The ID.3 really has an electric car for everyone. We are proud that Bridgestone has for the first time helped combine the performance and environmental benefits of the road with ENLITEN technology in the new all-electric Volkswagen ID.3. As a business, we are committed to providing customized solutions to OEMs, who are our primary partners contributing to the future of mobility, and working with them to create added value for society. This is exactly what we are doing in parallel with Volkswagen,” said Mark Tejedor, Vice President, Original Equipment, Bridgestone EMIA.
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1. Based on Bridgestone comparison with high-end summer tires of the same size with and without ENLITEN technology (92Y 225 / 40R18 XL).
